Democrat, Libertarian challenging Burton for District 1 Executive Council seat

Monday

Oct 29, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Samantha Allensallen@fosters.com

MILTON — This election day, Democrat Beth Funicella will face Republican incumbent Ray Burton for the District 1 Executive Council seat. Howard Wilson, of the Libertarian party, will also be on the ballot.

Burton, 73, of Bath, is an adjunct professor at Springfield College in Vermont. He previously told Foster's he wishes to be re-elected to ensure more people are involved in state government. He strives to make the state congressional delegation “do more for northern New Hampshire towns, cities and counties.” He is also strongly supportive of the hospitality, tourist and outdoor recreation industry.

“My vision for the future is to be there when citizens contact my office,” Burton previously told Foster's. “(I want) to continue to follow through on the dozens of requests from citizens who run into snags with their state government.”

Funicella, 57, of Jackson, has lived in the area for 17 years and told previously Foster's she wishes to run in the general election to offer voters “an alternative.”

“I'm running to offer the voters … an option for a fresh, new look at the problems that face our district,” she said.

Funicella served as chairman of the Carroll County Democratic Committee from 2008 to 2010, and is a board officer for Mountain Top Music Center, a nonprofit school offering music learning and listening opportunities in the Mt. Washington Valley and surrounding areas.

Wilson, 65, of Andover, has served on the Andover Budget Committee and worked as a town selectman and town employee. Wilson said he would bring to the position a fresh perspective, working to “cut back the size of state government.” He told Foster's he is also running on the Libertarian ticket to bring more awareness to third party candidates.

“We need ballot access, that Democrats and Republicans have,” he sad. “Right now, petition accessing is why we got on the ballot. I think given the tenor of the times, a lot of people will vote for us — me, and whoever else is on the ballot.”

By 2014, Wilson said he hopes Libertarians will not have a petition process.

“(I hope) we'll be treated more equivalent to the Democrat and Republican party.”